Stop the War Coalition Launches Kafa Campaign
The Stop the War Coalition's latest campaign, Kafa, was officially launched last Friday. Click here to read my account of the event.
Al-Muhajiroun Hijack Sharia Law Debate
The Centre for Social Cohesion (CSC) tonight urges the Government to ban the radical Islamist group al-Muhajiroun after police were called to a sharia law debate between CSC Director Douglas Murray and the newly appointed British al-Muhajiroun leader Anjem Choudary.
1/7 Terror-related Convictions Linked to Islamist Group Threatening to Relaunch
01 June 2009
"As radical organisation al-Muhajiroun says it is going to regroup, the Centre for Social Cohesion (CSC) can reveal that one in seven Islamist-related convictions in the last decade have had links with the extremist group..."
CSC Exclusive: Hate preacher Abu Izzadeen granted early release from prison
06 May 2009
The Centre for Social Cohesion has revealed through the Daily Mail that radical preacher Abu Izzadeen has been released from prison only one year after he was convicted of terrorism related offences [see pdf below]. Izzadeen’s release has been picked up across the broadsheet media.
New Report
A Degree of Influence: The Funding of Strategically Important Subjects in UK Universities
A Degree of Influence is the first study to analyse the high levels of foreign funding entering British academia. The report highlights how university subjects designated as 'strategically important' by the British government are currently receiving large financial injections from foreign donors, many of whom are unelected, despotic governments notorious for regularly perpetuating wide-scale human rights abuses.
DOWNLOAD PDF
DOWNLOAD EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CSC Director on BBC1’s Question Time
19 March 2009
CSC Director Douglas Murray appeared alongside Shadow Business Secretary Ken Clarke MP, Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell, Lib Dem economics spokesman Vince Cable and ITV’s Fern Britton answering audience questions on the recession, binge-drinking and university fees.
Home Office Ban Hezbollah Spokesperson from UK
13 March 2009
The Centre for Social Cohesion (CSC) has learned that the UK Home Office has barred Hezbollah spokesperson Ibrahim el Moussawi from entering the UK. The announcement follows the CSC’s pledge [pdf below] to seek an arrest warrant should el Moussawi enter the country. The CSC had previously revealed that el Moussawi had been due to address a conference of police and government officials at the School of Oriental and Africa Studies (SOAS) at the University of London.
CSC briefing on the Beth Din
The Beth Din: Jewish Law in the UK
Since the Archbishop of Canterbury’s controversial comments on Sharia law last year there has been widespread discussion about religious law in the UK, and a focus on comparisons between Jewish courts – the Beth Din – and Sharia courts. The Beth Din: Jewish Law in the UK is reference guide to how the Beth Din operates in the UK, including how they work within UK law to offer arbitration in civil disputes; their religious functions, including divorce; and whether they offer a parallel legal system.
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CSC on BBC1’s Celebrity Lives – Sharia Style
09 March 2009
CSC Researcher Houriya Ahmed is interviewed about the implications of accommodating some parts of Sharia law to the settling of civil disputes amongst British Muslims for a topical BBC documentary.
CSC seeks arrest warrant for radical Islamist Dr. Ibrahim el-Moussaoui
08 March 2009
CSC has pledged to seek an arrest warrant for alleged media spokesman for Hezbollah Dr. Ibrahim el-Moussaoui, who is due to visit Britain this March. (See pdf below for the CSC’s letter to the Home Secretary.)
The West and the Future of Islam
The West and the Future of Islam: A debate between Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Ed Husain
‘The West and the Future of Islam’, a debate hosted by the Centre for Social Cohesion in London, brought together two prominent speakers on Islam for the first time. Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a self-declared Muslim apostate and former Dutch MP, and Ed Husain, author of the best-selling book The Islamist and former member of the extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, discussed the compatibility of Islam and Western values.
To read a transcript of the debate download the pdf below.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali vs Ed Husain
Debate: Ayaan Hirsi Ali vs Ed Husain - 'The West and the future of Islam'
On 20th November, the Centre for Social Cohesion hosted an evening debate in Westminster between Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the former Dutch MP and self-declared Muslim apostate, and Ed Husain, the author of the best-selling book The Islamist.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali argues that Islam 'as a body of ideas' is opposed to 'Enlightenment' values. Ed Husain advocates an Islamic 'renaissance' arguing that Islam can be re-interpreted to meet the challenges of the modern world.
Latest From The Blog
June 30, 2009
A Lesson from Lord Palmerston
This is a guest blog by CSC intern David Pruwer.
In 1850, Lord Palmerston, then Foreign Secretary,
sent the British fleet to blockade Piraeus, the port of Athens. What was it
that inspired this seemingly drastic course of action? A British citizen
residing in Greece, Don Pacifico, was refused compensation by the Greek
government after his home was attacked and vandalised by a violent mob. This
might seem like a wholly disproportionate response to the rescue of a single citizen,
but what lay at the very core of Palermston's judgment was an inspiring
mindset. This is perfectly encapsulated in Palmerston's famed speech at the
House of Lords in justification of his decision; "as the Roman, in days of old,
held himself free from indignity, when he could say Civis Romanus sum;
so also a British subject, in whatever land he may be, shall feel confident
that the watchful eye and the strong arm of England, will protect him against
injustice and wrong!"
June 29, 2009
A Confused British Public?
This is a guest post by CSC Research intern David Pruwer.
A recent opinion poll conducted by the BBC produced some interesting results regarding the views of the British Muslim population on the UK and US military presence in Afghanistan. Perhaps the most startling figure was that 76% of the survey thought that the US and British governments were wrong for intervening in Afghanistan. Theorists may speculate as to whether this is down to the growing prevalence of anti-internationalist sentiment or perhaps simply an attack on British and US arrogance in their ability to act as the panacea for the world's ills. Alternatively it may even reflect tacit support for the Taliban cause.
Sharia Banking
Click here to read my feature article in the July/August issue of Standpoint magazine. In it I discuss the Islamist origins of the Sharia banking system, and how it is steadily becoming the preferred avenue through which to implement the sharia programmes of Britains leading Islamists. I also reveal how the British government is continuing its engagement with the Muslim Council of Britain through the promotion of Sharia finance.
June 26, 2009
Stop the War Coalition: a Misnomer
Click here for my latest Standpoint blog about the Stop the War Coalition's latest project, Kafa.